High School Tennis: Aberdeen Roncalli banking on senior leadership

SPORTS

New coach to continue tradition

Aberdeen Roncalli will count on six seniors and a former Cavalier standout to lead the charge in tennis this spring.

Mike Zerr will coach the team after long-time coach Judy Rezatto lost her battle with cancer recently. Zerr plans to carry on in the Rezatto tradition.

"I think it's definitely bittersweet," Zerr said. "Judy kind of prepares you in a way, that if she's not there, to step up. We had multiple conversations before she passed, getting things set up for the season."

Zerr said the half dozen seniors will be counted on to supply leadership.

While Roncalli lost its top two players from a year ago, there is plenty of firepower remaining.

"I think the guys that we have will step into those roles and fill those roles to the best of their ability very well," Zerr said.

Zerr said Monson has spent plenty of time on the court to improve his game from a year ago.

"Brian Monson will probably be our (number) one player this year," Zerr said. "He's really improved a lot over the last summer. That's a credit to him, working hard."

Falk and Ronayne are also no strangers to the court and form a potent tandem in doubles.

"Matt and Michael play great doubles together," Zerr noted. "They've played on the varsity the last two years."

Zerr said junior Adam Goetz will also factor into the mix, but time will tell exactly how the lineup will shake out.

"Nothing is completely set in stone for us right now," Zerr said. "These first couple of matches will be a great indicator of how we're going to play."

Zerr, who played for Rezatto and also served as an assistant coach under her, has taken on many of the same traits. When asked about expectations for the upcoming season, he responded the same way his late coach would have: "The expectation is to improve every day," he said. "By the state tournament, that's when we want to peak. Over the past, our guys have done a great job of doing that. If we continue doing the things that we're supposed to do and improve every day, I don't see any reason why we shouldn't be a team that can place in the state tournament."

The Cavaliers, who open their season on Monday by hosting Sioux Falls O'Gorman, are already ahead of schedule because of the mild weather conditions. Zerr said he could not recall a time that the players had gotten on the outdoor courts so early in the spring.

"Being out here and being able to get the time in outside, it makes a huge difference," Zerr said. "It's definitely improved our preparation to be ready to go throughout the season."